The setting up of an aquarium is both a fascinatng and patience-taxing job. The greater the depth of the water, the more troublesome is the task. The boyancy of the plants time and again frustrate our efforts. Usually after several futile attempts, a root selection seems to be successfully pushed down into the sand. Before one can follow through with the rest, the plant becomes foot-loose, gracefully arising to the top, necessitating starting all over again.
Frequently I would have beautiful plant specimens, well rooted, perfect in every way, but in the process of planting, quite often from one to two-thirds of the roots would either be destroyed, or so badly bruised, they would eventually rot. Resulting in weeks to overcome the shock.
Many people use a very simple device to eliminate the danger of cutting or brusinging the roots occasioned by forcing them into the sand. Cutting a thing strip of tin and bending it into a square frame just large enough to accomodate the root spread of a beautiful plant specimen. This frame can then be pushed into the gravel holding the plant in place.
By placing the plant in the center of this metal frame and spreading the roots out nicely, roots that should be covered by sand can be gently covered while the plant is held by the weight of the frame.
Plant weights are not actually made out of lead, because lead is potentially poisonous.
This is also a more healthy way to plant roots as this allows us to spread the roots out so they can grow more naturally and healthily.
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